BASIC CONCEPTS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF GEOGRAPHY -

DISTIBUTIONS

POOJA KUMARI

ROLL NO- 2012170001MA IVTH SEMSTER

What is Geography ?Geography word is derived from two GREEK

words “GEO”- means the Earth “GRAPHE” – means DescriptionThe first person to use the word "geography" was

 ERASTHOSTHENES (276–194 BC)Geography is the study of Earth’s landscape,

peoples, places and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live.

Geography is unique in bridging the social sciences (human geography) with the natural sciences (physical geography). Human geography concerns the understanding of the dynamics of cultures, societies and economies, and physical geography concerns the understanding of the dynamics of physical landscapes and the environment.

Philosophy of geography Philoshopy of geography  is that subfield of

philosophywhich deals with epistemological, metaphysical,

andaxiological issues in geography, with geographicmethodology in general, and with more broadly

relatedissues such as the perception and representation

of space and place.

DistributionsThe geographic perspective is a lens one

may use to analyze virtually any topic that has a spatial distribution, that is, anything that can be mapped. Geography offers a unique way to understand anything that is distributed across space, including the ever-changing relationship between humans and the environment, and thus make predictions and even propose solutions to current problems.

Since the Earth is a large interrelated system, humans and the environment have an interactive relationship, each influencing the other in complex ways. Technology enables people to drastically alter the flow of energy and matter through the Earth system and culturally modify the environment. Since the industrial revolution, therefore, these spatial impacts on the landscape have increased rapidly, as have population growth and environmental problems.

First, geographers observe spatial distributions in order to map them. Anything that exists in Earth space can be mapped. The geographer assesses spatial distributions by asking –

“Who or what is being observed?” “When is it being observed?” “Where is it located?”

Once one knows how something is distributed over Earth space, he or she can try to understand why it is distributed that way.

Geography is a broadly applicable, interdisciplinary perspective that allows for the observation and analysis of anything that is distributed across Earth space.

First, geographers document spatial distributions, asking who or what is being observed, when is it being observed, and where is it located? This is the “knowing” level of thinking.

Next, geographers investigate the underlying spatial processes that are responsible for the observed spatial distribution by asking “How did the spatial distribution come to be? Why is it the way it is?” This is the “understanding” level of thinking.

Finally, if geographers can understand why the observations exist, they can make spatial predictions and decisions to either maintain the distribution or change it by asking “How can… or What if…?” This is the “applying level” of thinking.

This perspective is unique in that it is not limited to a particular subject matter. Rather, geography uses an interdisciplinary and generic spatial perspective that may be broadly applied to anything distributed across Earth space.

Key TermsAbsolute location – defined by precise points on a

geographic grid using coordinates such as latitude and longitude.

Ecological perspective – the view one has when he or she explores the relationships between the physical and human environments.

Geographic perspective – the perspective used by geographers when they use all available data and tools to first assess spatial distributions, then investigate the underlying spatial processesresponsible for the observable spatial distributions, and finallymake spatial predictions and decisions about how best to preserve or change the distributions

Geography – an interdisciplinary perspective that provides a broadly applicable method of observing and analyzing anything that is distributed across Earth space so that predictions and decisions can be made about how best to understand or impact spatial distributions and processes; in Greek the word “geography” literally means “to describe Earth;” in describing Earth, geography bridges the social and physical sciences

Region – a human construct that attempts to generalize complex physical and cultural spatial distributions so that they can be understood

Spatial distribution – the distribution in Earth space of anything that exists and can be observed and mapped; not random but due to spatial processes

• Can be natural/physical, such as precipitation, temperature, or soil

• Can be cultural, such as language, religion, or gender equality

• Can also be the result of humans interacting with the environment, for example, soil erosion, deforestation, or habitat loss due to urban sprawl

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